Ahern calls for agreed EU policy on UN reform
By Denis Staunton in Warsaw

Irish Times
May 17, 2005

UN: Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern has called for a common
European Union position on reforming the United Nations and closer
co-operation between the EU and Africa in advance of September’s
decision-making summit in New York.

Speaking in Warsaw, where he is attending a summit of the Council
of Europe, Mr Ahern said the EU was close to agreement on many
elements of UN secretary general Kofi Annan’s reform proposals but
that important differences remained, particularly over the composition
of the Security Council.

Mr Ahern is one of five envoys appointed by Mr Annan to seek agreement
on reforming UN structures and activities.

“The whole process would get a huge shot in the arm if the EU had
a common position and it is the desire, I understand, of the EU
countries to have a common position on as much as they can, which
would be a substantial element.

“That would be seen as making a headline for the rest of the world’s
regions, if the EU can show cause,” he said.

Mr Ahern said the EU should build on its common interests with Africa
on issues such as Overseas Development Aid (ODA) and a proposal to
create a peacebuilding commission to marshal long-term international
efforts in post-conflict situations.

Mr Ahern defended Ireland’s opposition to a proposal by some EU
countries to fund development aid through an international tax on
airline fuel or airline tickets.

“If you’re paying â~B¬5 on a Ryanair ticket and then there’s in
effect a government tax of perhaps â~B¬20 or â~B¬30 on it, that’s
a huge additional cost. And for a country like Ireland, which has
a substantial tourist industry, it would be detrimental. There are
better ways of raising ODA,” he said.

Mr Ahern discussed UN reform yesterday in bilateral meetings with
ministers from Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Andorra and Armenia.

He will address the Council of Europe summit on the issue today and
hold meetings with counterparts from Azerbaijan and Georgia.

Leaders from every European country except Belarus will today agree
an action plan for the future of the Council of Europe and sign
conventions on terrorism, human trafficking and the freezing of the
financial assets of terrorists and organised criminals.

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said yesterday that the
Council of Europe, which is primarily a human rights organisation,
should focus more on the fight against international terrorism.

“Determining a proper balance between human rights and the need to
ensure society’s security, we recognise the necessity to comply with
universally accepted international norms,” he said.

The Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism to be signed today aims
to strengthen co-operation between member states on counter-terrorism
measures.

It includes a provision governing the protection and compensation of
victims of terrorist acts.

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